If you have made the determination that a dog is the right addition to your family then you likely have settled on a breed and perhaps are looking at breeders so you can adopt a puppy. Puppies are cute, endearing animals and it is easy to fall in love with one. Puppies are also a lot of work to teach proper behavior, to housebreak, and to keep happy and occupied. If you are considering a specific breed, instead of a breeder, consider the animal shelter for a grown dog in that breed or mixed with that breed.
The reasons for this are many. For one thing a puppy needs to have a place or access to a place where they can empty their bowls and bladder every four hours. An older dog will already be housebroken. A puppy will need obedience training and re-enforcing teaching to learn proper behavior while inside. In most cases an older dog will know this already. A new puppy is a long term commitment. An older dog may live for a good while, but being older they will not be such a long term commitment. Also older dogs often have a calmer disposition and are less likely to be destructive.
Another thing to consider is the age of any children in the household. While a puppy might be appealing to those children, particularly small children, you will find that an older, calmer dog might be a better choice. A puppy could get annoyed with certain behaviors and bite in retaliation without warning. In most cases an older dog will have more tolerance or give a warning before they bite. You will want to keep in mind size too. For children a good size dog is a medium sized breed, and one with a good calm temper. Both things are hard to tell with a puppy, especially with mixed breed dogs.
You will want to pay attention to allergies also. Remember that it is not the fur that causes reactions but the urine and dander. A puppy will expose you to more urine then an older dog. If you insist on a puppy though remember to use dander neutralizers in his fur, wash your hands after petting and playing with the puppy, teach them to stay off the bed, and get the puppy used to the vacuum because you will be running it often.
Why choose an older dog over a puppy? To save a life, to get the love from an older, calmer animal, to make a lifelong friend with less of the hassle and time consumed in training them. You will need the same supplies for both ages, including ID tags, collars, leashes, kennel, bowls for food and water, and a dog bed. An older dog should take to all of these things quickly while a puppy will have to be trained to tolerate them. Knowing the temperament of the dog coming into the family helps you plan how to introduce them to others.
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You will definitely want to pick up dog grooming tools and other pet grooming products .
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